"Well baby" checkups
One of the most important things you can do to keep your baby healthy is take him to the pediatrician or clinic regularly. The number of times you’ll see the doctor will vary with each child and each country. Consult your health care professional for the schedule in your country. The purpose of these checkups is to monitor your baby’s development and overall health. At these visits, the health care professional will check the following:

• Growth: Baby’s weight, body length, and head circumference will be measured.
  
  
• Head: The two soft spots located on the top of the head should be open and flat for the first few months. The spot at the back should be closed when the baby is approximately 3 months of age. The front soft spot should close around age 18 months.
  
  
• Eyes: The health care provider will use a bright light to track baby’s eye movements. He may also use a special lighted instrument to look inside baby’s eyes.
  
  
• Ears: Baby’s ear canals and eardrums will be examined with a special instrument. You will probably be asked how well baby responds to sound to determine if any hearing problems exist and if further testing is required.
  
  
• Mouth: Baby’s mouth will be examined for signs of infection. An older baby will also be checked for teething progress.
  
  
• Heart and lungs:A stethoscope will be used to listen to baby’s heart and lungs to check for abnormalities.
  
  
• Abdomen: The health care provider will gently press on baby’s abdomen (area surrounding the stomach) to be sure that none of the organs is enlarged or tender.
  
  
• Legs and hips: Baby’s legs will be checked for any dislocations. After baby starts walking, he will also be checked to be sure that legs and feet are properly aligned and move normally.
  
  
• Genitals: At a first checkup, a circumcised boy’s penis will be examined to make sure it is healing properly. He will also be checked to make sure both testes are down in the scrotum. Both boys and girls will have their genitals checked for unusual lumps, infection, or tender areas.

At each visit, the health care professional will also ask you to describe your baby’s behavior. For example, the doctor or nurse will want to know when your baby starts to smile, sleeps through the night, sits up by himself, crawls, and walks. These events are signals that your baby is developing normally.

Immunization
One of the many good reasons for taking your baby to the doctor regularly is to ensure that she receives all the immunizations necessary to maintain health.

Be sure that you and your family have received all the recommended vaccinations. If you have any questions about vaccines or illnesses, ask your doctor or health care provider.

When baby is sick
If your baby has any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency care immediately:

• Bleeding that doesn’t stop after pressure is applied for 5 minutes
• Bloody urine
• Burn that is large or involves hands, groin, or face
• Choking
• Cut that is large, deep, or involves the head, chest, or abdomen
• Diarrhea that is bloody or won’t stop
• Fever with rectal temperature above 38˚C if baby is 2 months of age or younger
• Hard to waken or unusually tired
• Trouble breathing or very fast breathing
• Head injury with loss of consciousness, vomiting, or poor skin color
• Neck stiffness
• Rash with fever
• Rectal temperature below 36.6˚C
• Seizures (Part or all of the body moves repetitively; baby may lose consciousness or stop breathing)
• Skin or lips that look blue, purple, or gray
• Sudden lack of energy or inability to move
• Suspected poisoning
• Unconsciousness or lack of responsiveness
• Vomiting blood or strenuous, repeated vomiting
• Yellowish skin or eyes

If your baby has any of these symptoms, you should call your health care professional to find out if your baby needs to be examined:

• Bowel movements that are unusual (bloody or jelly-like) or fewer than usual for several days
• Cold that doesn’t get better in a few days or that is accompanied by a fever, severe coughing, or discolored phlegm
• Crying and unable to be comforted or persistently irritable
• Dehydration signs, such as not wetting a diaper for 6 hours or longer, crying without tears, or soft spot on baby’s head being sunken
• Diarrhea that lasts for more than a few hours
• Ear discharge or signs of ear pain (baby pulls at ears)
• Eyes are pink, red, swollen, or leaking sticky fluid
• Fever and vomiting at same time
• Fever with rectal temperature above 38.3˚C if baby is age 3 to 6 months or fever with rectal temperature above 39.4˚C if baby is older than 6 months
• Navel is tender, red, oozing, or bleeding
• Penis is tender, red, oozing, or bleeding
• Rash, especially if there is a fever
• Sleep problems  
• Vomiting that is forceful or lasts for more than a few hours